NFC rookie symposium: Carlos Hyde thought he would be drafted by Browns

By
Jeff Schudel, The Morning Journal & The News-Herald

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Former Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde thought he would be drafted by the Browns.

Instead, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 25th pick in the second round – pick 57 overall.

By the time the 49ers drafted Hyde the Browns had made three draft picks –cornerback Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State eighth, quarterback Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M 22nd and guard Joel Bitonio of Nevada 35th – plus acquired the Bills’ first-round pick next year.

“Talking to the running backs coach from the Browns (Wilbert Montgomery), I felt like I was coming here,” Hyde said at the NFC portion of the rookie symposium in Berea on June 24. “The support from the fans of me coming here, I thought I was coming here. Guys who project the draft picks thought I was coming here.”

Hyde did not visit the Browns prior to the draft. Each team is allowed 30 pre-draft visits.

“It was just basically the relationship that I built with (Montgomery),” Hyde continued. “He was just telling me, ‘If you’re there when it’s our turn to pick, we’re taking you. We need a running back.’”

Instead, the Browns got their running back, Terrance West, by trading back into the third round and selecting him with the 94th overall pick. West is competing with Ben Tate for a starting job.

Hyde, 6-foot, 230 pounds, rushed for 1,521 yards on 208 carries (7.3-yard average) and scored 15 rushing touchdowns for the Buckeyes last fall. He caught 16 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns.

Hyde, a Cincinnati native, was the second running back drafted in 2014. The Titans drafted Bishop Sankey of Washington three picks before the 49ers took Hyde.

Hyde will have to share the ball with Frank Gore in San Francisco, but he said he is excited to play for the team that has played for the NFC championship three straight years.

“It’s awesome,” Hyde said. “Going from Ohio State to another winning program, you couldn’t really ask for a better situation. They know that at Ohio State, we win. So we’ll carry that on over to the Niners because that’s what they do. They win.”

The Buckeyes were 12-0 before losing to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship game and Clemson in the Orange Bowl.